A few of the big stories of the week

It was a big week for booze here at Food Republic. Our own Jeffrey Morgenthaler disagreed with cocktail authority David Wondrich’s column criticizing the revival of “crappy drinks” and penned a thoughtful rebuttal. We also learned about California wine, the rise of Maryland craft beer and spirits, and how bourbon pairs terrifically with ham. To cap it all off, we uncovered some secrets to mixing the perfect Irish coffee, ideal for blustery winter days just like this one. Don’t like booze in your cup o’ joe? We discovered a new product that mixes in some coconut water — yes, coconut water. Just when you think we may have given all the attention to the hooch this week, we unleashed five breakfast-taco recipes sure to beef up your weekend cooking. All that and more on this week’s edition of Hot Topics on Food Republic.

Jeffrey Morgenthaler pens a rebuttal to a column on the revival of “crappy drinks.”